The former Fort Bliss solider convicted in 2010 in connection with his goddaughter's beating death was sentenced to 40 years in prison Monday, more than five years after his arrest.

Jurors found Nakia Jonathan Dawkins, 37, guilty of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury in the April 2007 death of Milayna Harris, 2. However, the jury was not able to reach an agreement on his sentence.

A resentencing trial was originally scheduled to begin later this month, but on Monday morning Dawkins agreed to plead guilty to a second charge of injury to a child involving Milayna's brother. As part of the agreement, Dawkins was given the 40-year sentence, plus a five-year sentence on the second charge. Dawkins will serve each sentence concurrently, or at the same time.

REPORTER

Adriana M. Chávez

At the time of Milayna's death, Dawkins, a former Army staff sergeant, and his wife Shawntrell Dawkins were caring for the girl and her 4-year-old brother. Their parents, Sheree and Earl Harris, had left the children in the couple's care while the two, who were also Army soldiers, were deployed overseas.

Shawntrell Dawkins was convicted of murder in January and sentenced to 33 years in prison. Court records show she pleaded guilty in June separate injury to a child charge involving Milayna' brother and was also sentenced to five years in prison. Both sentences will run concurrent.

During Monday's hearing, Assistant District Attorney Penny Hamilton said Milayna's body was bruised practically head to toe. According to previous court testimony, more than 40 percent of the girl's body was covered in bruises.

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The girl also suffered from numerous blows to her head and torso, and brain hemorrhaging.

Hamilton also said Milayna's brother had been struck with a belt and possibly another object.

Nakia Dawkins declined to give a statement during his sentencing hearing before 34th District Judge Bill Moody, but began sobbing after Hamilton read a victim-impact statement written by Milayna's brother, Sheree Harris. He was consoled by his attorney, Matthew DeKoatz.

"This will never end for me ... and our family," Hamilton read from Harris' statement. "I have lost a child I will never get back. I will probably never know what really happened to my daughter, and why this happened in the first place. Neither of you have shown an ounce of remorse."

According to the statement, Harris' health has declined since Milayna's death, and her son, now 10 years old, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. The boy has to take medication and undergo counseling, and still struggles with his sister's death.

"I did not expect for my aunty and uncle to hurt me and my sister," the boy wrote in the statement.